Are you getting worried because your Cat vomiting undigested food? In some cases, cat vomiting is normal but sometimes it could be a serious issue. So in this post, we will learn all about why your cat is vomiting undigested food, what the reasons are, and what you should do. Let’s start…
The attachment we have to our cats is beyond the normal pet parameters. Cats have a way of making us feel loved and filling in a companion slot we didn’t know existed. When you come home to your feline friend and they purr and rub up against you, the stress of the day melts away. Wherefore, it is quite unsettling when you notice your furry friend vomiting. What could be the problem, you ask yourself. Should I rush to the vet? Well, we have researched this topic extensively and come up with various reasons to explain the barfing. Maybe the solution is right there in front of you.
At first, I would like to give you some hints for the possible condition/situation of your cat;
- Cat vomiting undigested food hours after eating
- Cat throwing up food but acting normal
- Elderly cat vomiting undigested food
- Why is my cat throwing up white foam
- My cat keeps throwing up yellowish liquid
[toc]
Is the cat vomiting or regurgitating?
First of all, it is important to determine if your furry friend is vomiting or regurgitating. You should note if your Cat vomiting undigested food hours after eating or not. If your Cat throwing up food but acting normal then you need not worry. When a cat regurgitates, the food easily spills from the mouth with no effort. The kitty simply lowers her head and virtually undigested tubular-shaped food covered in mucus is expelled. Usually, she proceeds to eat the contents shortly after. This kind of regurgitation indicates that the problem is esophagus-related and has nothing to do with the stomach. It also means that the food had not quite reached the stomach and that the regurgitation is likely a result of some blockage, or something rather, in the esophagus.
On the other hand, when your fluffball vomits, it is a combination of labored heaving and retching with contractions that come from deep in the stomach. The resulting material will be semi-digested food mixed with stomach fluids like gastric acid and bile. This kind of vomiting is likely a result of either gastrointestinal disorders (factors to do with diet, stomach and upper intestinal tract) or non-gastrointestinal disorders (indicators of more serious conditions).
When to Worry if Cat Vomiting Undigested Food?
An occasional, isolated bout of vomiting is normal, so don’t freak out. But if the puking is frequent, this is likely a more serious condition. In some instances, cats vomit fresh blood which is usually from the stomach or upper part of the small intestine. If, the blood is partially digested it will look more like ground coffee which indicates it is probably from the lower intestines. Some of the additional signs of vomiting include looking tired, lacking appetite with abnormal stool including diarrhea, dehydration, and lethargy and weight loss. If you see any of these signs, rush kitty to the vet for further analysis.
Advice:
I advise you and strongly recommend you to have Automatic cat feeders that help cats feeding automatically and at the time. We have already listed Top 10 Cat feeders on this blog and you can check the list here.
4 Reasons why the cat is vomiting
As for occasional vomiting, there are several reasons that could be causing kitty to regurgitate. Let’s explore them and see if we can solve the mystery of the vomiting furry friend.
Hairballs
Our furry friends are fond of cleaning themselves by licking the dirt right off their fur. As a result, they end up swallowing a lot of furs resulting in furball regurgitation. You should help your cat groom herself by brushing her excess fur off. In multi-cat homes, make sure you groom your kitties often to reduce the amount of fur your cats eat from grooming themselves and their colleagues. This will significantly reduce the frequency with which your feline friend regurgitates fur balls.
Diet
The type of food you feed your cat may be the cause of their occasional barfing. The primary food you serve your fluffball should be the same standard as human food. Avoid rendered diets which include slaughterhouse leftovers and cat foods which are basically made from ground roadkill. The manufacturers of these foods are not particular about removing non-protein organs like feathers, hooves, plastic tags, beaks, animal skins, eyes, and heads. Your feline friend ends up with a diet consisting of indigestible debris that she inevitably vomits.
When buying treats for your furry friend, check the package for chemicals like Surfactants, chemical dyes and emulsifiers, Glycol, Propylene, Ethoxyquin, and FDC red #4. These chemicals are harmful to your cat’s digestive system.
You may like to read,
Cat not Eating or Drinking for 3 days – Here are the 7 Reasons
My Cat Peed on my Bed for the First time
Why do Cats Sleep on You at Night on Chest, Bed, Head
What Not to Feed Cats – 5 Foods are Cats not Allowed to Eat
Food Allergies
The cause of regurgitation in your feline friend could be a result of food allergies. Milk, for instance, is one of the main causes of vomiting in cats. A cat’s small intestines do not produce the kind of lactase that is equipped to absorb the lactose in cow’s milk. Ideally, each animal is conditioned to digest lactose from the milk of their own species. So if possible, avoid feeding you fluffball cow milk.
Additionally, make an effort to switch between different kinds of protein. The same kind of protein over time causes gastrointestinal inflammation which manifests in puking. Cats tend to favor one kind of protein over the others, but trying to trick kitty into taking more than one kind is recommended.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is one of the more serious conditions that cause vomiting in cats. It comes as a result of low production of protease, lipase, and amylase in the pancreas. A simple supplement added to kitty’s diet should be able to alleviate the problem.
Other serious conditions include Inflamed Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Hyperthyroidism, Liver failure, Kidney failure, Colitis, Gastrointestinal cancer, Enteritis, and Gastritis among others. There is no way of knowing off the bat if your feline friend has got any of these conditions without visiting the vet.
When it comes to taking care of your fluffball and her barfing bouts, go with your instincts. If you notice any of the aforementioned symptoms coupled with frequent vomiting, take her to the vet. Even if you have not observed those symptoms but are just wary of the way kitty is behaving, take her to the vet. Our cats do their part in taking care of us and being awesome housemates. We should also do our part in making sure they stay healthy and happy.
